Want to take your homemade treats to the next level? We've got three recipes to put warmth, color and a little wow on your holiday table from chef Yotam Ottolenghi.

(Image credit: Peden + Munk)

]]>Reena AdvaniWe Really Do Get A Little More Santa-Like, Physically, During The HolidaysAll that holiday grubbing does indeed pack on the pounds. How much? Researchers tracked the weights of 3,000 people in Germany, Japan and the U.S. and found a weight spike after every major holiday.Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:12:00 -0400https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/21/494916454/we-really-do-get-a-little-more-santa-like-physically-during-the-holidays?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/21/494916454/we-really-do-get-a-little-more-santa-like-physically-during-the-holidays?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

All that holiday grubbing does indeed pack on the pounds. How much? Researchers tracked the weights of 3,000 people in Germany, Japan and the U.S. and found a weight spike after every major holiday.

(Image credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

]]>Angus ChenPremium, Young And Natural: The Turkey Labels We Cluck-Cluck OverTurkeys these days are often plastered with an array of terms that can confuse and even mislead consumers. Here's a glossary of jargon for the wannabe informed Thanksgiving turkey buyer.Wed, 18 Nov 2015 13:30:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/18/456414257/premium-young-and-natural-the-turkey-labels-we-cluck-cluck-over?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/18/456414257/premium-young-and-natural-the-turkey-labels-we-cluck-cluck-over?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

Turkeys these days are often plastered with an array of terms that can confuse and even mislead consumers. Here's a glossary of jargon for the wannabe informed Thanksgiving turkey buyer.

(Image credit: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

]]>Anders KeltoA Boozy Parisian Pineapple That Tastes Like The HolidaysDorie Greenspan struggled to recreate a friend's sweet dessert, but he just wouldn't divulge his secret. "It's nothing," he said. "It's so simple." Turns out, it <em>is</em> simple — once you have the recipe.Fri, 28 Nov 2014 16:56:36 -0500https://www.npr.org/2014/11/28/366327332/a-boozy-parisian-pineapple-that-tastes-like-the-holidays?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/2014/11/28/366327332/a-boozy-parisian-pineapple-that-tastes-like-the-holidays?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

Dorie Greenspan struggled to recreate a friend's sweet dessert, but he just wouldn't divulge his secret. "It's nothing," he said. "It's so simple." Turns out, it is simple — once you have the recipe.

(Image credit: Alan Richardson /Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

]]>NPR Staff'Canadian Peanut Butter' Connects Mainers To Their Acadian RootsOK, so <em>cretons</em> are not really peanut butter. They're more like a rustic spiced pork or turkey pâté sold mostly around the holidays at meat markets and small grocery stores in Maine.Tue, 25 Dec 2012 09:33:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/25/167737131/canadian-peanut-butter-connects-mainers-to-their-acadian-roots?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/25/167737131/canadian-peanut-butter-connects-mainers-to-their-acadian-roots?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

OK, so cretons are not really peanut butter. They're more like a rustic spiced pork or turkey pâté sold mostly around the holidays at meat markets and small grocery stores in Maine.

(Image credit: Lauren McCandlish/NPR)

]]>Laura McCandlishChristmas A Busy Season For Tamale-MakersTamales are a holiday tradition for many Latinos. Some families will make their own. But others turn to <em>tamaleros, </em>tamale-makers who can churn out hundreds of tamales a week that taste even better than homemade.Mon, 24 Dec 2012 09:03:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/24/167960027/christmas-a-busy-season-for-tamale-makers?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/24/167960027/christmas-a-busy-season-for-tamale-makers?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

Tamales are a holiday tradition for many Latinos. Some families will make their own. But others turn to tamaleros, tamale-makers who can churn out hundreds of tamales a week that taste even better than homemade.

(Image credit: Lauren Rock/NPR)

]]>Brenda SalinasAt Christmas, A Roman Holiday Revolves Around The FoodThe Italian city isn't big on Christmas glitz and glamor. Instead, Rome saves its holiday shine for the dinner table. The Christmas day meal might start with lasagna before moving on to turkey or guinea hen. And it wouldn't be complete without plenty of sweets.Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:17:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/24/167702814/at-christmas-a-roman-holiday-revolves-around-the-food?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/24/167702814/at-christmas-a-roman-holiday-revolves-around-the-food?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

The Italian city isn't big on Christmas glitz and glamor. Instead, Rome saves its holiday shine for the dinner table. The Christmas day meal might start with lasagna before moving on to turkey or guinea hen. And it wouldn't be complete without plenty of sweets.

(Image credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)

]]>Sylvia Poggioli'Unitaskers' And Other Foodie Gifts We Don't NeedHow do you resist foodie trinkets that look and sound so whimsical and delicious? Here's our guide to spotting the most useless stuff that your relatives will thank you for not buying them this year.Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:42:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/19/167613831/unitaskers-and-other-foodie-gifts-we-dont-need-or-want?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/19/167613831/unitaskers-and-other-foodie-gifts-we-dont-need-or-want?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

How do you resist foodie trinkets that look and sound so whimsical and delicious? Here's our guide to spotting the most useless stuff that your relatives will thank you for not buying them this year.

(Image credit: Lucas Jackson/Reuters/Landov)

]]>Eliza BarclayBuilding A Rover Of The Edible KindIf you've ever wanted to eat a replica of the Mars rover Curiosity that made history this summer, here's your chance. A Caltech chef made one out of gingerbread, and it's on display in the lobby of the Athenaeum, a faculty and staff club on the Caltech campus.Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:54:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/18/167553525/building-a-rover-of-the-edible-kind?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/18/167553525/building-a-rover-of-the-edible-kind?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfoodIf you've ever wanted to eat a replica of the Mars rover Curiosity that made history this summer, here's your chance. A Caltech chef made one out of gingerbread, and it's on display in the lobby of the Athenaeum, a faculty and staff club on the Caltech campus.

]]>Joe PalcaSowing The Seeds For A Great American Chestnut ComebackAt the turn of the 20th century, a deadly fungus wiped out billions of American chestnut trees from the forests of eastern North America. But, growers are now trying to rebuild a U.S. market with Chinese and European chestnut species and re-introduce Americans to chestnut cuisine.Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:24:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/13/167142393/sowing-the-seeds-for-a-great-american-chestnut-comeback?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/13/167142393/sowing-the-seeds-for-a-great-american-chestnut-comeback?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=holidayfood

At the turn of the 20th century, a deadly fungus wiped out billions of American chestnut trees from the forests of eastern North America. But, growers are now trying to rebuild a U.S. market with Chinese and European chestnut species and re-introduce Americans to chestnut cuisine.